Top Bills News This Week (5/27-6/2)

It's officially June, and as the days go by, we are getting closer to the football season. The Summer is always a slow time, but with OTA's, roster improvements, and injury news, there's always a little something to talk about. Here is this weeks top Bills news.

Roster Moves: 

There haven't been too many moves as expected, besides the rookie signings mid-May, but the Bills added depth to their LB core by signing former Packer and Jet, Jamari Lattimore. The 2011 undrafted FA is 27 years old, and looks to add some needed depth to the Bills while Shaq Laqson recovers from injury. The product, from Middle Tennessee State University, has some size and speed to him, which will fit Rex's tough defensive scheme perfectly. Lattimore will be able to get to the QB, and he'll be fighting for a roster spot throughout the summer. 

OTA News:

Marcell Dareus and Charles Clay are back at practice. Both are key pieces of this offense this upcoming season. Dareus will be trying to help bring the defense back to top 10 form, while Clay will look to keep the rushing game #1 by using his big body to block and open up holes. It's always good to get great players back in the mix, even if it's practice.

Seantrel Henderson will also be making his return to the team after missing extended time last season and most of the offseason so far with Crohn's Disease. He's been recovering for some time now, and will look to take back his spot at RT, as Jordan Mills has been keeping it warm for him.

Injury News:

In addition to Henderson returning, Sammy Watkins is also making progress, about a month and a half after his foot surgery. He said he's hoping to get the boot off [Thursday], and that he is just listening to the coaching staff. Sammy Watkins will also be a key cog this year, as usual, so it's important that he receives the proper medical treatment and follows proper protocol to get back ASAP. 

That about wraps it up for the key Bills news this week. There will definitely be more coming in the future weeks. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

Image #1: http://www.buffalobills.com/assets/images/imported/BUF/photos/article-assets/Story-Photos/2016-05/ota-notes-marcell.jpg

Image #2: http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Jets-Bills-Football_News.jpg

Lawson's Injured, but Criticism Not Needed Yet

The injuries are beginning to hit the Bills, as it seems they do every year. Buffalo Bills 1st round pick, Shaq Lawson, underwent successful surgery this morning on his right shoulder. Now, Lawson must play the game of "Wait and Recover," as it has been suggested that he may be on the self for 4-6 months. For a rookie, losing this much amount of time to learn the system and get familiar with the franchise is crucial to a players young career. With that said, many fans and analysts are now questioning the amount of accountability being held for Doug Whaley and Rex Ryan's actions.

It was initially stated straight out of the draft, from medical crews, Whaley, Ryan, and even Lawson himself that the right shoulder of Lawson was "100% ready to go," which of course, is not the case. Lawson's shoulder issues were known months going into the draft. Adam Schefter, ESPN analyst tweeted during the draft that several teams even went as far as to take Lawson off of their draft board. That didn't stop the bold minds of Ryan and Whaley though, as they believed Lawson was an excellent talent, despite the reports of his injuries. It's speculated that Rex and Whaley were well aware of the injury, but thought the surgery could be put off until next offseason. It could not, and thus, fans seem to be very upset with the coach and GM of the Bills.

"If the Bills knew Lawson had injury issues and may miss up to half the season, why did the Bills take the risk on him?"

"Whaley and Rex don't think about the future, only now."

"Whaley and Rex lied to everyone when they said Lawson was okay."

Those are all loose quotes from Bills fans that I've heard since yesterday. Some fans are even calling for Whaley's job. To any fans questioning Whaley and Ryan about this pick, I say; don't. The Buffalo Bills will be just fine. I understand the concern, especially since this seems like a typical Buffalo scenario in the typical 16 year playoff drought, but it's not time to push the panic button yet, and here's why;

•  Most fans knew that Lawson had this nagging shoulder injury that would require attention eventually. 
• Getting this treatment done now will prevent further injury in the future. Let Lawson rest and rehab now, and he will come back full strength and ready to go.
• Buffalo will get his services eventually. The idea of not having an exciting, disruptive first round talent for, at most, half the season does not sound good to me at all. But, if this team can have a decent record when he returns, Lawson can help further the playoff push. 

Whaley and Rex are not the ones to blame here. Lawson was definitely a first round talent, and despite this injury, he will hopefully be a force when fully healed, like he's expected to be. Lawson was one of the best defensively ranked players in the draft. He is very versatile, and can tackle, sack the QB and even play a bit of coverage.  They took a gamble, yes, but I don't think this pick is a bad one at all. I think he will prove that to all of us in his return. What do you guys think? Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

Image #1: Bill Wippert/Associated Press 

Image #2: 

Buffalo Bills Complete Draft Review

The Buffalo Bills draft concluded last Saturday, and in the eyes of the front office and many fans, the Bills had an excellent draft. The Bills went heavy on defense, spending their first 3 picks on the front 7, and 4 out of 7 picks on defense in total. Doug Whaley and Rex Ryan both believe they had a couple steals. In addition, they also are planning to start 2 of Buffalo's picks this season. Let's look at who they picked up.

DE/OLB: Shaq Lawson (Round 1, Pick 19)

Buffalo decided to beef up the d-line with their first pick of the draft. Standing at 6'4", weighing 260 lbs, Lawson is a big man who can get to the QB. The Clemson product will be a huge addition to the Bills defense, as he brings versatility as a lineman, who can also play stand-up LB. He will be a day one starter across the line from Jerry Hughes, as stated both by Doug Whaley and Rex Ryan. Lawson posted 167 tackles and 20 sacks in his career with Clemson. The Bills certainly found a gem in the 1st round, who will look to take over the hole left by Mario Williams departure.

LB: Reggie Ragland (Round 2, Pick 41)

In the 2nd round, the Bills went front-7 again, this time taking LB Reggie Ragland, out of Alabama. He's also a large man, measuring 6'2" and weighing 258 lbs. He can do anything you need a LB to do, including coverage, rushing the passer, and stopping the run. In college, he racked up 222 tackles and 10 passes defensed. Whaley also said he will start. The Alabama product will line up in the weak-side linebacker spot next to Preston Brown, the third year LB. Although Reggie Ragland had some questions regarding injuries, Whaley felt it was safe to take Ragland in the 2nd round, and if all goes well, it will pay off. Reggie Ragland is an excellent athlete who will bring a lot of versatility to the table.

DT: Adolphus Washington (Round 3, Pick 80)

Buffalo continued to supply the defensive stash, this time picking DT Adolphus Washington in the 3rd round. He is 6'4", and 290 lbs. In his college career with Ohio State, he had 142 tackles and 13.5 sacks. A versatile tackle who can play the five and three technique, Washington will look to see some starting reps in Rex's "5-2 defensive front," rotating in with Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus. Whaley and Rex have a lot of confidence in this pick, who can hopefully step in right away and make an impact, and maybe even take over for Kyle Williams when he decides to retire.

QB: Cardale Jones (Round 4, Pick 139)

With Tyrod Taylor's future in Buffalo still a question mark at this point in time, the Bills elected to go QB in the 4th round of this year's draft. Cardale Jones will look to develop as the 3rd QB on the Bills roster, behind EJ Manuel and of course, Taylor. The QB out of Ohio State has all the physical attributes to be a great QB in the NFL, standing at 6'5" and weighing 249 lbs. Add in a powerful arm, and he has all the tools to be a stud. He has some issues though, such as accuracy, footwork, and consistency. Jones can work through all of those issues though, and Whaley has stated that Jones' floor is a "very solid backup." Jones may potentially challenge EJ for the backup job as training camp gets underway, but he may be several years away from being a starter in the NFL.

RB: Jonathan Williams (Round 5, Pick 156)

The Buffalo Bills had a great steal of Karlos Williams in last year's draft, so why not try that again? That may have been the motive behind this 5th round pick, as Buffalo's backfield was battered for most of the year, with all the RB's on the roster missing games. Williams also had 22 total touchdowns and 2,321 yards in his college career. Drafted as mainly a special teams acquisition, the 6'0", 223 lb Arkansas RB will look to challenge for some touches as well, in a crowded Bills backfield.

WR: Kolby Listenbee (Round 6, Pick 192)

This speedy receiver was a safe gamble for the Bills, but if it pays off, he will be an excellent acquisition. Listenbee is 6' tall, 197 lbs, and has stated he believes that he's "probably the fastest player in the NFL." He also stated though that speed isn't everything, and that he needs to improve his route running. Rex and company are excited about the TCU product's speed though, and if he can improve his route running, look out.

CB: Kevon Seymour (Round 6, Pick 218)

The Bills spent their last draft pick on a corner late in the 6th round. Seymour is quick, posting a 4.39 40-yard dash time at the pre-draft workouts. The 6', 170 lb CB will look to make his biggest contributions on special teams as a gunner, along with a potential as a punt/kick returner.


Overall, the Buffalo Bills had a solid 2016 draft. The draft has made this team instantly better on the defensive side of the ball, as Lawson, Ragland, and Washington all will look to contribute from day one. There is a lot to be excited about after this draft, as Rex is looking to greatly improve the defense from its 19th overall rank last season. Buffalo will see more from these rookies as mini-camp begins next week. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Buffalo!

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Image #3: http://www.anotherpackersblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/USATSI_8804852.jpg
Image #4: http://www.dispatch.com/content/graphics/2015/12/10/adolphus-washington.jpg?__scale=w:660,h:769,t:1,c:ffffff,q:80,r:1
Image #5: https://nbcprofootballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/jones.jpg
Image #6: http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/003/499/815/d75433733a4d60b800f2d5ab76d5342b_crop_north.jpg?w=630&h=420&q=75
Image #7: http://a.fssta.com/content/dam/fsdigital/fscom/ncaa-fb/images/2015/08/18/081815-2-CFB-TCU-Kolby-Listenbee-OB-PI.vresize.1200.675.high.27.jpg
Image #8: http://buildingtheherd.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Kevon-Seymour-Pic-1.jpg

Buffalo Bills Top Draft Needs

The road to opening night in the NFL, in many eyes, begins tomorrow. The draft begins at 8 PM (Est.), and at pick #19, the Buffalo Bills will select their next hopeful superstar. There's a lot of defensive talent in this year's draft pool, and with a defense that ranked 19th last year, expect the Bills to pick up some solid defensive talent. These are the Buffalo Bills top ranked draft needs.


1. LB: The Buffalo Bills top priority may just be a LB. The depth at that position has grown very thin over this offseason, losing Nigel Bradham to Free Agency, along with AJ Tarpley to retirement, along with some cuts, such as Tony Steward. Even with the Bills signing of Lorenzo Alexander and Zach Brown not too long ago, the Buffalo Bills could use an early pick on a LB to solidify the struggling position. If the Bills were to look for a LB in the first couple rounds, potential targets such as Alabama standout Reggie Ragland or Su'a Cravens, out of South California.

2. DL: With the aging of DT Kyle Williams and the departure of Mario Williams, this once menacing Buffalo Bills defensive line seems not so scary at all. The Bills need to make a move here at the draft, and it may happen as soon as round one. They could begin to beef up this line by taking a shot at questionable prospect Robert NKemdiche with their 19th overall pick.

3. QB: Tyrod Taylor is the man in Buffalo...for now. Contract talks have been shaky to say the least, as Whaley is not 100% convinced that Taylor will be this franchise's bona fide starter for years to come. With that said, the Bills may definitely walk out of this full draft with one or even two new additions at quarterback. Paxton Lynch may very well be there at pick 19, but the Bills may wait until later to draft someone, such as a Dak Prescott (Mississippi State) or Kevin Hogan (Stanford).

4. WR: Tyrod needs to prove himself this season, and the Bills need someone to compliment Sammy Watkins. The solution? Draft a wide receiver. The Buffalo Bills may not have a lot of options, as the WR class is not deep this year, but they may still find some value in TCU product Josh Doctson, or Ohio State star Braxton Miller, beginning maybe in the 2nd round.

5. SS/FS: If the Bills could walk out with a solid acquisition for all of these positions, the Buffalo Bills draft would be a 110% success. Late in the draft, the Bills may consider picking up a safety. With Corey Graham aging, Aaron Williams mindset being shaken after a potential career-ending injury, and a simple lack of depth at the position, the Bills may look to someone like Deon Bush (Miami) or Derrick Kindred (TCU).

The Buffalo Bills certainly have some holes to fill, but they've also got a lot of options. The moves Buffalo will make will sure be interesting, and if all goes well, they could walk out with their next gem. Thanks for reading, and as always, let's go Bills!!!


Image #1: http://www.billsdaily.com/images/draft2016.jpg
Image #2: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

I'm Back!

Welcome back to the Buffalo Blitz Sports Blog. I've taken a bit of an offseason hiatus while the Bills have been on their vacation. The NFL Draft is tomorrow, which means the road to opening day begins when the draft goes underway in Chicago. In addition, the Buffalo Bills schedule was released last week. Look for blogs about those topics and more, right here. This is just a short message to say that I'm back! Let's go Bills!

Buffalo Bills Year In Review

As the biggest event in the NFL, the Superbowl, is just over 24 hours away, and 30 other teams' seasons have all come to an end, it's time to look back on the Buffalo Bills 2015 campaign. It all began with an offseason full of excitement and unmatched hype, as season ticket sales were at an all time high. Rex Ryan got hired as the new Bills head coach. A new quarterback came to the surface for Buffalo, as Tyrod Taylor earned his spot as the starter. Key transactions such as the signings of Charles Clay and Percy Harvin, along with the trade for Lesean McCoy had this fan base ecstatic for the season to come. The Bills even managed to lock up a great playmaker in DT Marcell Dareus for 6 more years. Still, as has been the usual for the past 16 years, the Buffalo Bills missed out on the playoffs...again. 

Going into the season, the Buffalo Bills had a "run first" mentality, and they did just that. The Bills lead the NFL in rushing, averaging 152 yards per game. They ran the ball 506 times (2nd in the NFL) for a league leading 2432 yards. They also had 19 rushing TD's which is tied for 1st in the NFL. An extensive part of this rushing offense came from QB Tyrod Taylor, who made his first NFL start last season. Other key contributors were superstar Lesean McCoy and rookie stand-out Karlos Williams. Let's not also forget the men up front. Cordy Glenn, Richie Incognito, Eric Wood and John Miller all had solid seasons on the offenseive line. With the league's best rushing attack along with several young runningbacks in the Bills system, this team doesn't need a lot of improvement in the backfield.

The passing attack was also efficient, but other times it was a pain to watch. Let's start by saying the Bills only passed 465 times, which is good for 31st in the NFL. With that said, it's expected that their passing #'s in general will take a large hit. They ranked 28th overall in passing with just 208.9 yards passing per game. Tyrod Taylor carried most of the passing load, except when EJ Manuel got his 2 starts due to an injured Tyrod Taylor. This passing attack had 7.7 yards-per-attempt, which ranks 6th in the NFL. They also managed to prevent turning the ball over, throwing only 9 picks, which is ranked 9th in the NFL. This passing attack was certainly not spectacular, but it was where the Bills needed it to be, considering how dominant their rushing attack was. Overall, Buffalo's offense finished the year ranked 13th in the NFL. The defense is really what seemed to hold this team back. 

This Bills team came into this year boasting the most sacks over the past 3 seasons and just came off a 4th overall ranked year. This year, Buffalo defense ranked 19th overall, and it was unfortunately deserved. This defense lacked discipline, hustle, and overall just couldn't get off the field. The coaching is also to blame, as several times the defensive players were complaining about what they were forced to do and how late calls were being received inside the huddle. The defense was also heavily penalized, which was a huge factor in them not being able to get off of the football field. Buffalo had the 6th most picks this year, but ranked 31st in sacks. Several key injuries also hindered this defense, including Kyle Williams, Aaron Williams, Nigel Bradham, Stephon Gilmore, Leodis McKelvin, and Marcell Dareus late in the season. This defense has a lot of needs, and with Mario seemingly on his way out, it'll be interesting to see how they handle these needs and issues.

However it's looked at, this Bills team was exceptional in some areas, but were inexcusably poor in others. Doug Whaley, along with Rex Ryan will need to step up this offseason to ensure the Bills needs are fulfilled for hopefully a successful season this year. If the defense can fix it's flaws and the offense can continue to grow and succeed, this team may finally find a balance and can gain some consistency. Thanks for reading, and as always, Let's go Buffalo! 

Update: This article pertains to the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Next article will take a look at specific players and how they've contributed over the season. Thank you!

Sources:

Stats: http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/passing/sort/sacks/position/defense/seasontype/2

Image #1: (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)

Image #2: https://nbcprofootballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/cd0ymzcznguwzdbhnduynddiytjhm2yyzthlmtjjotqwyyznpwm1zje1ntc2yzk4m2m2nzi3y2e3ytazm2flyjhhmmy1.jpeg?w=250

Bills Vs. Jets Game Breakdown

That's all she wrote, folks. The Buffalo Bills 2015 season came to a conclusion on Sunday as they took down the New York Jets by a score of 22-17, eliminating the Jets from playoff contention. It was a meaningless game for Buffalo, but they looked fired up to take down their division rival, who had everything on the line. The Bills finished the season with a typical record of 8-8, average as usual. The Jets finished 10-6, falling just short of the playoffs. Let's break down the game.

It was a defensive battle for most of the early going, but eventually Buffalo broke through and put up a 13-0 lead. The Jets retaliated with a TD of their own, but went into halftime trailing 16-7. The Jets attempted a comeback in the 4th quarter, but Fitzpatrick showed who we really was, and destroyed the Jets chances with 3 late picks.

The offense had a quiet day, putting up only 295 yards of offense, but they scored 22 points. Both QB's had a weak day, each of them putting up below 200 yards. The rushing game for Buffalo wasn't too friendly either. The rushing game put up just 113 yards. Perhaps the most impressive stat for Buffalo was that they dominated the time of possession, maintaining possession of the ball for 39 minutes of the game. It was an overall ugly day, but there were some key contributors for Buffalo's O.

One of these key performers was QB Tyrod Taylor. In his last game of his 1st starting season, he put on quite a show on the ground. He rushed 10 times for 51 yards and a great touchdown run back in the 1st quarter. His passing game wasn't spectacular as he went 18/28, 182 yards, with 0 TD's or INTs. As usual though, he had a big impact on this game, and it'll be very exciting to see what he does going forward.

Sammy Watkins went crazy on Sunday, and he even made a purchase of property on Revis island. He torched the pro bowl CB for 11 receptions and 136 yards. Watkins, when healthy and when getting steady targets, is an absolute monster. The chemistry between him and Tyrod has only grown stronger since Sammy has been healthy, and that chemistry will carry over to next season.

The defense came through when they needed to, holding the Jets to just 300 yards. They got to Fitzpatrick, sacking him twice as well. Fitzpatrick also met the Bills secondary, as he tossed up 3 late picks, sealing the game for the playoff hopeful Jets. The Bills defense came into this game banged up, missing key stars such as Stephon Gilmore and Nigel Bradham. Seeing them play like they did despite all the injuries may show that the team is finally gelling into Rex's scheme. This defense disappointed nearly all year, but may show signs of improvement going forward, especially with the last few outings they've had.

The season finished up 8-8, and it was a disappointing year plagued by penalties and injuries. They seemed to have taken a step back from last year's 9-7 team, but the offense has gotten better, as they excelled in the rushing game, placing 1st in the NFL as a rushing unit. Tyrod played a huge part in getting them 1st in rushing, and although he's made a lot of plays, he still needs work as a passer. Buffalo has made some improvements, but Whaley and company have a lot of work cut out for them. Thanks for reading. I apologize for my absence as of late, and as always, Let's go Buffalo!

Sources:
Stats: http://espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=400791603
Image #1: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Image #2: T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports